Egypt Taking 'Mubarak' Off Buildings, Streets

Egyptian court rules that Mubarak family name should come off of many streets, buildings, and the like. “Time to move on,” lawyer says.

By Maayana Miskin

First Publish: 4/22/2011, 10:59 AM / Last Update: 4/22/2011, 11:40 AM

Flash 90

An Egyptian court ruled Thursday that the name of former President Hosni Mubarak, and names of his relatives are too widely used on Egyptian streets, squares, public institutions and other facilities, and that the situation should change.

The ruling was given in a suit brought by attorney Samir Sabry, who called to rename many public places.

“For 30 years, we've been suffering from a ruling family that has now been accused of several crimes, including abuse of power and murder,” Sabry told Reuters after the verdict. “We need to move on.”

Many officials put Mubarak's name on various public institutions as a show of support for the long-term leader. The number of institutions and awards named for Mubarak and his family over the course of his 30 years of rule is estimated to be in the tens of thousands.

Mubarak stepped down in February as protests against his rule swept the country and military leaders warned him that he faced a forcible ouster. He was replaced by the military, which has promised to transfer power to a democratically elected government within the year.

A short time later, Mubarak was banned from leaving the country, and his assets were frozen. In April, he was questioned regarding embezzlement of public funds, abuse of power, and the deaths of hundreds of protesters during his last weeks in power. The aging former leader reportedly suffered a heart attack during questioning, but was ordered to be detained for further questioning regardless. On Thursday, doctors at the Sharm El-Sheikh hospital where he is being treated said his medical condition was unstable.